Alyssa Soccer / Ayden being Ayden....

 Ayden Showing Off!

LA 84 has updated their website.  It's officially, Ayden won the Gold Medal.  Take a look:

LA 84 2012 Results!

Dive Pics

 Alyssa looking for the shot!

 ...adjusting to the ball...

 ...incoming...

 battling for the ball!

 Meanwhile Ayden is just hanging back...

No Comment

***No hike here, just watching my kids.  Alyssa scored a goal in this game and of course I did not snap a picture or shoot video of it.  She's playing hard and working back to her MVP stature...

Day 642: Wilderness Glen

Found a creek in Wilderness Glen

Day #642 * Hike #760 * New Track #628

Sunday August 19, 2012

Wilderness Glen - Mission Viejo, California

My Tripometer: 15 Minutes * 1 Mile * +50 Feet

 Ooh, a Historic Site!
(There's Hikes at every intersection in Mission Viejo!)

 Trailhead

Directions

We were at a read light at Trabuco and Los Alisos.  We ate breakfast and were in route to Alyssa's morning game.  Alyssa was already at the field so when I looked to the right and noticed this sign, I told Jess that we will be making a pit stop.  She wasn't very happy but said, "you better run."

Driving directions, hmm, well, this is close to my last hike: Day 643: Serrano Creek.  The Wilderness Glen area appears to be pretty big with multiple trails.  I just happened to find one...

 It's nice back here...

Unexpected

I actually planned on hiking Serrano Creek this morning and was disappointed that I did not encounter water.  Meanwhile, this random hike offer water almost immediately.  At first I thought the trail was just a cut through to another street but then realized I kept going lower and eventually wound up at this creek.  The trail went on for a ways.  I probably went a good half mile in making the round trip a mile trek.  I had to work double time back because of the uphill.  Bottom line, I'm so glad I stop at all of these places.  It's a great feeling to live and explore...

Day 642: Serrano Creek Trail

Pathway to Serrano Creek near the Trailhead

Day #642 * Hike #759 * New Track #627

Sunday August 19, 2012

Serrano Creek Trail - Mission Viejo, California

My Tripometer: 1 Hour * 2.5 Miles * +250 Feet

Trailhead

Directions

From Los Angeles, take the 405 South nearly to the end and take exit 1B Bake Parkway.  Turn left on Bake and about 1.75 miles down turn right onto Via Del Rio.  You will see the Serrano Creek to the right.  Park your car on the street and begin your hike.  This is a great biking trail and it goes all the way to Whiting Ranch/Limestone Canyon.

 The dry creek

 The trail goes between the neighborhoods

(one step from the city pavement to this shaded serenity)

 Many ways to make a quick exit

The temperature was 72 this morning and the trail was in fast condition. I ran most of it but carefully crossed the busy Trabuco intersection.  It was early morning and I conned my wife into dropping me off.  It was a race back to the hotel before Alyssa's game time.  After Trabuco expect to feel the incline but it was steady enough that it didn't faze me.  Stay to the right on the junctions and this will take you to my destination, Extended Stay America.  We usually pay up to stay at a 4 star hotel but today we toned down for this 1 star venue with no pool.  It’s only about a mile from the hotel to Whiting Ranch but there was no time for this added adventure right now.  Hmm, maybe I will do this after the game? 

 View of the Serrano Trail from our Hotel window

Day 641: The Search for Leon Russell at Lake Mission Viejo

Leon Russell
(All night we thought this was Willie Nelson, oops!)

Day #641 * Hike #758 * New Track #626

Saturday August 18, 2012

The Search for Leon Russell - Mission Viejo, California

Lake Mission Viejo

My Tripometer: 3.5 Hours * 2.75 Miles * +250 Feet

 Ayden performs his first ever backflip on the grass!

Directions:
Follow the driving instructions from Day 641: Lake Mission Viejo.  We are at the park watching Alyssa's 2nd soccer game.  It's an evening game hence the trajectory of the sun forming the shadows.

 Ayden discussing Parkour with a new friend

Yes, the game is about Alyssa and I did take many photos but they all came out horribly!  I shot some video too so hopefully they will turn out good for the archive.  I really need a new camera.

 Trailhead

The hiking actually began long before this.  We hiked out of the park, up the hill and across the street to the Lake.  There was a concert going on and the streets were packed.  We tried getting in through the main gate for Lake Mission Viejo but they were charging and we weren't that interested.  What we would have been into was taking a dip in the lake because it was so hot all day.  Anyhow, we hiked up Olympiad beyond all the madness.  About a half mile uphill we found this sidewalk which trekked down into a neighborhood...

 It was dark and Ayden was creeped out

 The beach, from the backside - no entry here

 eye level from another street - no trespassing

 Ayden's like, let's go!!!

Nah, although I could have easily scaled the fence, we weren't going to do this.  Especially not for Leon Russell, who :)?  Ironically, I just received a comment today about trespassing from my Malibu Lake hike.  Check out the comment at the bottom of the post: Day 639: Paramount Ranch & Malibu Lake.  This so called property owner was threatening me with guns.  Really!  I am respectful out there and I'd like to think that I point out good things about the outdoors.  Anyway...

 Many of these guys hunting for blogger bashers!

 My great camera taking a shot of the concert

Yeah, I think it's long overdue for me to get another cheapo camera.  My night vision is horrible and this quite possibly is my worst post to date.  **Good thing tomorrow is loaded with real hikes in real outdoor wildernesses!

Day 641: Aliso Creek Trail - Pebble Creek Park - Darrin Park

Aliso Creek Trail

Day #641 * Hike #757 * New Track #625

Saturday August 18, 2012

Aliso Creek Trail - Lake Forest, California

Pebble Creek Park - Darrin Park

My Tripometer: 1.5 Hours * 1.75 Miles * +50 Feet

 Trailhead

Directions:

Follow the driving instructions from my previous hike to: Lake Mission Viejo.  From the Park, turn right on Olympiad and then left on Marguerite.  Make a right on Alicia Parkway and then another right on Trabuco (all main streets with traffic lights).  About a mile down Trabuco, turn right on Manalastas.  There are many spots that you can reach the Aliso Creek Trail but I chose these stairs which you will see on your left.

 Aliso Creek

I hiked to the west at first.  After crossing under Trabuco, I took a picture of the bridge at the top of the page.  I then turned back and ran about a mile to:

 Pebble Creek Park

 The Trail

I turned off the main trail and made a sharp turn to the left which lead me down here...

 Aliso Park is a Trailer Park, but...

 The trail lead to Darrin Park

 Across the Park

I met Ayden and Jessi at this park and shared their ice cream.  It's hot out here; no coastal breeze.  Mission Viejo is like Thousand Oaks and Laguna is like Malibu.  **Looking at the clock, we had to get back because Alyssa was soon to play her next soccer game.  If I get back down this way, I will try to go further down this bike path.  It appears to go quite a ways.  There are so many public trails in the Mission Viejo area.  We randomly come across this one and as you will see tomorrow; ditto that...

Day 641: Lake Mission Viejo - Marty Russo Youth Athletic Park

Lake Mission Viejo

Day #641 * Hike #756 * New Track #624

Saturday August 18, 2012

Lake Mission Viejo - Mission Viejo, California

Marty Russo Youth Athletic Park

My Tripometer: 2 Hours * 1.25 Miles * +75 Feet

 Flags of Many Nations!

Directions:
From Los Angeles, head south on I-5 and take exit 96B, the 133 North.  Stay on 133 for three miles and exit 241 South.  Take this for 5 miles and take exit 22A, Portola Parkway.  (I didn't actually come this way today but if I recall, there is a $3.00 toll on the 133 & 241.  Also, please note there are two Portola exits so be sure to take the right one).  Turn right on Portola and then continue straight on to Santa Margarita.  Less than a mile down, turn right on Marguerite Parkway.  Another 0.7 miles, turn left on Olympiad.  The park entrance will be less than a quarter mile down on your left.  Lake Mission Viejo is across the street.

 The back of the park

Looks like there will be a concert tonight?

From Long Beach, we drove to our hotel, checked in and then met up at the soccer field.  There was still time before Alyssa's game so as usual, I turned it into the hike.  I breezed through the soccer fields and then climbed back up the hill to see what all the commotion was about.  I snapped this shot and then walked back to the soccer fields just in time for the first game.

The Camarillo Eagles faced off against the Arsenal Futbol Club.  Arsenal is arguably one of the finest soccer programs in the land.  To make matter worse for our Eagles, our goalie from last year left our squad to join Arsenal.  We have been left with no goalie and throughout these tournaments, the girls have been taking turns.

End result of this game, Arsenal 2 - Eagles 0!  Arsenal did not yield a single goal the entire tournament.  They won all five games to take home the top prize.  Our Eagles redeemed themselves with a 1 - 0 victory against Laguna later that day and then beat another team 3 - 1.  Alyssa was not herself yet she managed to score one of the goals.

More hikes to come...

Day 641: LA 84 Dive Meet - Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool

Ayden performing a back dive w/ 1/2 Twist in 2011 LA 84

Day #641 * Hike #755 * New Track #623

Saturday August 18, 2012

LA 84 Dive Meet - Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool
Long Beach, California

My Tripometer: 3 Hours * 1.5 Miles * +25 Feet

 The Home of the 1984 Olympics!

 The beach behind the pool

 An Oil Island!

 The Springboards and Platforms

 Ayden nailed his 1 1/2 in warm ups

 Ayden claiming 1st Place on the Podium

I shot video of his meet and I intend to mix this up and share it.  He scored 5.5's - 6.5's on his first dive, a Forward Dive in the Pike Position.  The DD is 1.3 and all dives are on the 1 meter springboard.  His second dive was a 1 1/2 Forward Somersault (1.6 DD) and he scored 6's - 6.5's.  He was in first place after that dive.  Only one other diver in his age group attempted that dive.

In round three, most divers performed a back dive, which is worth a 1.7 or a back dive with a half twist, which is worth a 1.8.  However, Ayden decided to go with a complicated Reverse Dive, also worth a 1.8.  He is fully capable of pulling off a double somersault, worth 2.2, but we chose the Reverse.  He went up high and landed vertically with little splash.  Unfortunately, the judges ruled he was too close to the board, the danger zone, and deducted points.  He only scored 4's and 4 1/2's.  The good news was, it was enough to claim first place!!!

This was Ayden's second year of diving.  Last year he competed in LA 84 and finished 2nd.  We are now looking into Club Diving for him where he can compete nationally!

I checked the website and the results for 2012 are not up yet but I located the results from last year:

2011 LA 84 Dive Results 

My sister Julie met up with us at the Dive Meet.  She lives in Long Beach and she just came back from 3 weeks in Portugal.  Yes, I am jealous!  We ventured to the north of the Belmont Pier.  This is where my hike begins...

I hiked on the pier and to the south a while back

The Pier

 Hiking North to Long Beach

We ate brunch at the Belmont Brewing Company.  I guess the food was okay but the service was horrible.  I'm sure that's not always the case though - our server was a 50-year-old tweaker "No Tip".  I hike too far along the promenade because our next event was in Mission Viejo.  Alyssa was in a soccer tournament so here comes another hectic weekend (full of hikes!)...

Rewind:

Day #640 * Hike #754 * Duplicate Track

Friday August 17, 2012

Arroyo Verde Park - Ventura

My Tripometer: 1 Hour * 2.5 Miles * +325 Feet

I nearly claimed a new hike of Kanan today.  A guy I worked with recommended it but it was a long hot week.  I decided to keep it easy with the coastal air near home.  Besides, I would be gone all weekend and my dogs needed a workout!